My PowerBoost is essentially dead

[Clinkinfo]

Yep I only deal with the Service Manager now and the GM doesn’t really care as I didn’t buy the truck from his dealership .

Trying to get Ford Canada to send us a 2022 or give us our monies back but they only say “we’ll call the dealer for you”

new to the forum and ford, but I’ve got lots of DIY experience on BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche.

those brands have long used much of the tech that’s “new” to the ford. Complex safety systems, and lots of programming. Those brands are notorious for being very picky about “voltage stability”. So when people are suggesting the battery, it’s the right track but it doesn’t necessarily encapsulate the real issue. When these systems experience a quick voltage spike or drop the sensors driving the systems can throw error codes. The first system throwing a code can then cause a cascade of additional system codes.

When you have a scenario like this with tons of electrical sensor driven codes that can’t be described and certainly aren’t all “broken” in those brands, you move to the electrical supply system as the culprit in diagnosis. So the big stuff you start to check includes:

the battery
the alternator
the regulator
AND the chassis ground straps/connections

saying it’s the battery is way over-simplifying the issue. It could easily be any one of the 4 categories above. Personal experience, I had an x5 With bad ground connections that did what you describe. I had a cayanne with a faulty regulator that did what you describe, and I had an x3 with a bad alternator that did what you describe.

i‘d be telling the tech to look at the voltage when the errors are thrown. I’ll bet you if you reset the error codes and watch, they will suddenly come back when you also see a spike or drop in voltage on the gauge. When these components fail, they will sometimes still work ok some of the time, and then have “moments” when they go wonky and throw the wrong voltage.

The Porsche was the easiest to see the direct correlation, it would be fine for an hour and then suddenly when the regulator would act up I could see the voltage start drifting between 12.7 and 14.2 on the gauge, just kind of bouncing all around suddenly. within a few minutes the dash would light up like a Christmas tree.

so I think the battery is the right direction, but I would be checking the 4 categories I listed, it really could be any of them. I’d be most suspicious of the regulator, which may be built into the alternator in the ford and all one unit. I’ve seen that be the issue many many times in the European DIY forums with problems just like yours and it’s been my own problem before twice Across different brands as well.

good luck!

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[scott011422]

Great Points! That's why you are supposed to have a dedicated high quality auxiliary power supply connected for any programming. +- 1 volt can do damage and absolutely cause havoc on these newer systems. Why do you think there is another 12v battery under the back seat? They are trying to limit voltage irregulates during petrol start/stop transitions.

This could all defiantly be power issues.

I work in automated manufacturing and If i were to see this in any machine its either a power problem (80% of the time) or a communication problem.

I'm sorry your dealer is brushing you off. The fact that they wont even entertain the power system is extremally irritating being it should have been one of the first things checked.

 

[Josh35]

Update: went armed with some new info that someone sent me after running my VIN with FRDS:::

((Friday DEC 31 5:40 PM A CODE SET FOR THE VISION SYSTEM CAMERA.
Monday Jan 3 6:24 AM 58 codes were set.

it started setting all those codes 56 miles after the camera code set on the Friday before. That camera code requires an IPMA update which much be done with a charger connected to truck. The issue with the Ipma causes multiple lights on the dash and could also theoretically cause a battery drain. I could not find where this was ever performed. It needs to be addressed.
There is also a special service message related to gateway module causing loss of network communications. I see where they replaced it but have not run the configuration tool on it.
It appears they have made progress on it because it is only setting three codes now. One of them can result in a drained battery. Have you noticed one of the rear doors harder to close? If so the striker should be adjusted and make sure to turn zone lighting off in Sync4. That is the concern that causes the gear shift module to not operate properly and report the "shift to park" message and to discharge the battery.
I definitely question the battery. I would either replace it or before I pushed the start button connect a charger so that I could see if the codes set again.))

Was told by the Manager and the Mechanic that I’m wrong about everything stated above and whoever pulled that info doesn’t know what their talking about - I told them it’s been 8 weeks with no fix, so maybe it’s you that doesn’t know what you’re talking about…what’s wrong with a second opinion. I asked them to swap the battery and see…

mechanic: NO, it’s not the battery, stop asking about the battery it’s not the battery, it’s the gateway module not getting enough “ohms”. We need to replace the gateway module

me; you already replaced the gateway module, please humour me and swap the battery and see what happens

mechanic: no, it’s not the battery

me; you’ve had the truck 8 weeks now and have no clue how to fix it…swap the battery and see

mechanic; no it’s the gateway module.

me; YOU ALREADY REPLACED THE GATEWAY MODULE, and just told me it’s not receiving enough power…where does the power come from? Does it come from the battery?

mechanic; yes, but it’s not a battery issue it could be a wiring issue between the module and the battery…

me; so……replace the battery and rule out the battery

mechanic; no. We’ve requested a field tech but that’ll take 3-4 weeks for one to come out

what’s interesting to me is this mechanic had never even found the - camera IPMA.

i told them to tow it to another dealership if they can’t fix it, but I will lose the loaner truck and FORD will not cover the cost of a rental ??‍ Which is ludacris considering I’m still paying for my Lariat that’s in the shop for electrical issues (not my fault)

I’m now at a loss…you’re telling me another MONTH no truck??? Once again, Ford Canada is useless and will not help in anyway. We are paying $$$ for a truck we cannot drive.

 

[diambo4life]

What a complete idiot (the mechanic) is. How can you be so close minded and impervious to critical input and advise? I would be LIVID. I would be there first time thep open shop to the time they close shop. EVERY. DAY. Sorry, you are going through this. I can just imagine the toil it's putting on your sanity!

 

[3DogKnight]

Update: went armed with some new info that someone sent me after running my VIN with FRDS:::

((Friday DEC 31 5:40 PM A CODE SET FOR THE VISION SYSTEM CAMERA.
Monday Jan 3 6:24 AM 58 codes were set.

it started setting all those codes 56 miles after the camera code set on the Friday before. That camera code requires an IPMA update which much be done with a charger connected to truck. The issue with the Ipma causes multiple lights on the dash and could also theoretically cause a battery drain. I could not find where this was ever performed. It needs to be addressed.
There is also a special service message related to gateway module causing loss of network communications. I see where they replaced it but have not run the configuration tool on it.
It appears they have made progress on it because it is only setting three codes now. One of them can result in a drained battery. Have you noticed one of the rear doors harder to close? If so the striker should be adjusted and make sure to turn zone lighting off in Sync4. That is the concern that causes the gear shift module to not operate properly and report the "shift to park" message and to discharge the battery.
I definitely question the battery. I would either replace it or before I pushed the start button connect a charger so that I could see if the codes set again.))

Was told by the Manager and the Mechanic that I’m wrong about everything stated above and whoever pulled that info doesn’t know what their talking about - I told them it’s been 8 weeks with no fix, so maybe it’s you that doesn’t know what you’re talking about…what’s wrong with a second opinion. I asked them to swap the battery and see…

mechanic: NO, it’s not the battery, stop asking about the battery it’s not the battery, it’s the gateway module not getting enough “ohms”. We need to replace the gateway module

me; you already replaced the gateway module, please humour me and swap the battery and see what happens

mechanic: no, it’s not the battery

me; you’ve had the truck 8 weeks now and have no clue how to fix it…swap the battery and see

mechanic; no it’s the gateway module.

me; YOU ALREADY REPLACED THE GATEWAY MODULE, and just told me it’s not receiving enough power…where does the power come from? Does it come from the battery?

mechanic; yes, but it’s not a battery issue it could be a wiring issue between the module and the battery…

me; so……replace the battery and rule out the battery

mechanic; no. We’ve requested a field tech but that’ll take 3-4 weeks for one to come out

what’s interesting to me is this mechanic had never even found the - camera IPMA.

i told them to tow it to another dealership if they can’t fix it, but I will lose the loaner truck and FORD will not cover the cost of a rental ??‍ Which is ludacris considering I’m still paying for my Lariat that’s in the shop for electrical issues (not my fault)

I’m now at a loss…you’re telling me another MONTH no truck??? Once again, Ford Canada is useless and will not help in anyway. We are paying $$$ for a truck we cannot drive.

Your ongoing problem with Ford makes me wonder if I made the right choice buying a Ford.

 

[notabot]

Stating the obvious here, but how does a module need "more ohms"? Resistance (measured in ohms) should be a known value at all measurement points within the tolerances of the component.

Tech needs a snickers bar and a couple more classes...

 

[UGADawg96]

Does Canada have a lemon law ? I would have already called a lawyer and demanded a buy back.

 

[Josh35]

What a complete idiot (the mechanic) is. How can you be so close minded and impervious to critical input and advise? I would be LIVID. I would be there first time thep open shop to the time they close shop. EVERY. DAY. Sorry, you are going through this. I can just imagine the toil it's putting on your sanity!

Mine and my wife’s sanity are completely shot…my wife is at the point where she cries when they tell us it’s not fixed and Ford Canada says nothing they can do to help us…I’m ready to pull my hair out or pick up the truck and drive into Lake Ontario ??‍
No faith in this truck even if it does get “fixed”.
The issue only happens when it’s cold out, by the time the Tech gets there it’ll be warmer here in Toronto and the issue will have “resolved” itself till December ??‍.

I told the mechanic to go start up another PowerBoost on the lot, and if no codes pop up then great, put THAT battery in mine and see what happens. If it still happens then okay, it’s not the battery…I even recommended swapping the Gateway Modules first to see what happens, rather than waiting the week or 2 for a new to ship which may not even be required.

The mechanic has this insane ego that he’s smarter than everyone else and won’t even entertain the thought of it….buddy, it’s been 8 weeks…you’re not smarter than anyone.

 

[Josh35]

Stating the obvious here, but how does a module need "more ohms"? Resistance (measured in ohms) should be a known value at all measurement points within the tolerances of the component.

Tech needs a snickers bar and a couple more classes...

I may have misinterpreted what he said aboht OHMS. I’m not an electrician but he was going on about these ohms and not enough to the Gateway Module blah blah blah. I told him I’m an average Joe, talk to me like a normal person I don’t know what you’re saying…

 

[Josh35]

Does Canada have a lemon law ? I would have already called a lawyer and demanded a buy back.

No lemon law here.
I was told to not mention a lawyer to Ford Canada cause they will stop accepting calls/emails and forward it all to their legal team and await our “lawsuit”

 

[Josh35]

What a complete idiot (the mechanic) is. How can you be so close minded and impervious to critical input and advise? I would be LIVID. I would be there first time thep open shop to the time they close shop. EVERY. DAY. Sorry, you are going through this. I can just imagine the toil it's putting on your sanity!

I go right when they open on the colder days to watch them start it up and see the dash light up like the 4th of July…this is on days they claimed it was “fixed” too

 

[RJL1400]

That’s not an acceptable answer and if they stick with that they should just give you a new truck.

 

[Josh35]

That’s not an acceptable answer and if they stick with that they should just give you a new truck.

We have requested:
All our monies back and Ford take the truck back (full buy back)
or
Send us a 2022 with the exact same specs as what we have now.

O, and all these “repairs” are on the CarFax…which means I am losing major value on the truck if I to keep it and try to sell it down the road.

Ford Canada says we can trade the truck in and order a new one…are you kidding? Trade it in and lose how much $? Currently over $13k loss at what the dealer appraised it at…not to mention some poor chap will buy it not knowing the issues it has

 

[Josh35]

Hmmm. I will call the dealer and request this tomorrow thanks.

Update: they called Ford Canada for help and are requesting they send an engineer to visit…..

So this actually never happened…

 

[GrandpaD]

I tend to agree with @J44snk ...

Why not make a "deal" with the Service Manager...tell them you want to buy a new OEM battery out of your own pocket and have them install it. If it solves the issue(s) then they'll eat the cost of the battery. If not, you'll absorb the cost.

I realize you don't want to put any more money into this $70k+ non-working hunk of metal, but if you're convinced this is going to resolve the issue...

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